Display device



Jan. 31, 1961 J. c. GARVIN 2,969,605

' DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Oct. 15, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F IG. 5 v I INVENTOR JOHN C. GARV/N J. c. GARVIN DISPLAY DEVICE Jan. 31, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 15, 1959 53 5/51? FIG. 7

F/GJO INVENTOR JOHN C. GARY/IV ATTORNEY United States Patent DISPLAY DEVICE John C. Garvin, Washington, D.C., assignor to Safety Sake Enterprises, Inc., Washington, D.C., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 13, 1959, Ser. No. 846,206

8 Claims. (Cl. 40-10) This invention relates to display devices. More particularly, it is concerned with providing a uniquecombination display device and coin holder that may be removably attached to various surfaces, such as the dash-1 board of an automobile or a sales counter, or other suitable surfaces. Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a combination display device and coin holder which may be removably attached to various surfaces, such as the dashboard of a vehicle; to provide a com-. bination display device and coin. holder wherein the means for holding coins may also be advantageously employed as retaining elements for different indicia bearing signs applied to the display device; andto provide a combination display device and coin holder wherein novel means are employed for attaching the display device and coin holder to a supporting surface.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device for promoting safety comprising an attractive display surface and coin holder of the character described which will serve as a source of information or a constant reminder, as for example, for emergencies arising while driving an automobile. 'In this event, the device would carry the name and telephone number of. a particular service station or automobile garage, towing service,- doctors office, hospital, ambulance service, fire station,

police station, or other station or service, and provide an emergency coin for calling that particular station for assistance.

These and other objects and advantages of the instant invention will become more apparent from a review of the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the appended drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of an automobile dashboard with the combination display device and coin holder aflixed thereto;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the display device and coin holder shown in Fig. 1, wherein a magnetis employed to anchor the same to a supporting surface;

Fig. 3'is a side elevational view of the display device and coin holder;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view partly in section of the display device and coin holder when provided with a modified type of anchoring means;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the display device and coin holder wherein the magnet holder has a ball-type socket, whereby the magnet holder may be adjustably affixed to the display device and coin holder;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 of a display and coin holder device provided with a novel magnet assembly for anchoring the display and coin holder device to a support;

' Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view of the b ack of the display and coin holder device of Fig. 6 and discloses in detail the magnet unit holder with the magnet unit disposed therein;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the novel magnet unit or assembly of the instant invention;

molded from a suitable plastic material.

. 2,969,605 Patented Jan. 31, 1961 Fig. 9 is a bottom plan view of the display and coin holder device of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 10 is an elevational view of a modified type of suction cup that may be used with the display and coin holder device shown in Fig. 6.

With further reference to the drawings, wherein like numerals have been used to identify like parts, it will be observed that the combination display device and coin holder of the instant invention is generally comprised of a plaque or indicia supporting element conveniently Although as illustrated in the drawings, the plaque is of an octagonal shape, it is obvious that it may have any shape desired. The plaque 1 may be so molded that the front face 2 thereof contains a pair of spaced and converging fingers or finger-like elements 3. These fingers are generally L-shaped in cross-section and they are so spaced from one another as to form a coin receiving pocket 4 therebetween, within which one or more coins 5, shown in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2, may be disposed. The

pocket 4 can hold coins of different denominations, due

to the shape of the fingers. Also, its depth can be made to hold a specified number of coins. The coin receiving pocket or receptacle 4 serves as a convenient storage means for coins used, for example, in emergency telephoning, in parking meters, for paying bridge, tunnel and turnpike tolls, etc., when the display device and coin holder is affixed to the dashboard 1' of a vehicle.

In addition to serving as a coin storage means, the fingers 3 advantageously operate jointly with an inserted coin to hold an indicia-carrying card, label or plate 6 in place on the front face 2 of the plaque 1. The card 6 may be removably applied to the plaque 1 by placing the openings or apertures 8 in the card 6 in registry with the fingers 3 and then inserting or forcing the fingers 3 through the openings until the peripheral edges 9 at the top of the openings 8 come to rest on the top surfaces 10 of the fingers 3 in the manner shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings. fingers 3 in overlying relation to the intervening portion Y of the card 6, as seen in Fig. 1, the fingers and coin act jointly to hold the card on the plaque -1. The front top the card may carry an adhesive on its back for either permanent or temporary afiixation to the plaque.

Means are also provided for removably affixing the display device and coin holder to a supporting surface, such as the dashboard 1' of an automobile. In one embodiment of the invention, these means may comprise a simple magnet 12 disposed in a plastic magnet holder 13, with the holder 13 in turn being suitably and rigidly secured to the back face of the plaque 1.

A further embodiment of the invention contemplates that instead of using a magnet 12, a suction cup 15 of rubber or rubber-like material may be employed. This suction cup 15 may be advantageously afiixed to the plaque 1 by universal-type joint arrangement as indicated in Fig. 4 so that the plaque may be disposed in a variety of positions and afiixed to a wide variety of differently disposed or inclined surfaces. In this event, the joint arrangement would include a stem member 16, one extremity of which is affixed to the back of the plaque 1 and the other extremity of which is provided with a ball or bulbous element 18. The bulbous ele- Upon insertion of a coin between the m'ent18'isinsertablewithin the spherical opening 19 in the'suctioncup -15 in amanner well-known-in the art? A similar universal-type -joint arrangement may be employed for securing the magnet 12 to the plaque 1 as noted in Fig. 5. In this event, themagnetho1der13 could be fabricated from a suitable rubberor rubberlike material in such a fashion that it would contain the spherical'socket or'opening 20-for receiving-the ball 21 on a stem member similar to that disclosed in Fig. 4;

The card 6, which may be removably affixed to the front face of the plaque 1, may carry various types of indicia, such as safety slogans or phrases, advertising, calendars, daily reminder messages, etc. The entiredevice may be sold or given away as premiums by any type of business firm and the giving away of a coin as part" of the premium would, of course, greatly increase the appeal of the device In one embodiment of the invention, it is contemplated that the card could carry the name and telephone number of an automobile service station which, for example, had

given the device away as a premium to a customer, so that the customer will be reminded to call that station by phone, especially in emergencies.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the inven' tion, a novel magnet assembly or unit 50-is employed as the means for affixing the display and coinholder device This magnet assembly 50 is to a supporting element. more fully disclosed in Figs. 6-9 of thedrawings, and generally comprises a sandwich typeunit having'an inner magnet core 51 of a suitable ceramic material with-outer layers or pole pieces 52 being disposed oneither side further advantage in providing a convenient meansfor anchoring the magnet assembly or unit 50 within'a suit able slot 55 in the magnet holder 13'. Holder 13" is affixed to the plaque 1 in a manner similar to holder 13.

The lower portions of walls 56 of slot 55 in the holder- 13' are advantageously provided with inwardly taperingsurfaces 56' which correspond to the taper of the bottom" edges of the pole pieces 52. Thesurfaces 56 thus tend to wedge the magnet assembly 50 in place within-the holder 13', as well as serving as a means-for holding the sandwich magnet assembly 50 together. assembly is inserted in slot 55 simply by holding elements 51 and 52 together and sliding them endwise into slot 55.

The magnet assembly holder 13 may, if desired, be pro vided with side wing elements 60 adjacent the base thereof, so as to reinforce the walls 56of'the holder 13" and prevent their being spread apart during the wedging of the magnet asesmbly 50 within the magnet assembly holder 13.

When the holder 13' is-provided with a special slot 55 having the configuration noted, and it isdesirable to use a suction cup rather than a magnet foraffixingthe display and coin holder device to a support,-it is-contemplated that the upper stemportion 58"of a suction cup element 59 of the type shown in Fig. 10 would have a configuration approximately the shape of slot 55. Finally, it is also to be noted that the holder 13 even when used to hold the magnet assembly 50 or suction cup element 59 may be of the type shown in Fig. 5, i.e.-, one which is secured to the plaque 1 by a universal-type joint.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention may have The magnet been disclosed anddescribed. It is obvious that various changesand modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A combination display device and coin holder of the type described comprisinga plaque, transversely spaced, forwardly projecting fingers disposed on the front face of the plaque, an indiciadaearing card having apertures spaced to receive said fingers, removably mounted on the front'face of the plaque, said fingers jointlydefining'za receptacle for a coin inserted therebetween in overlying relation to a portion of the card and acting with said inserted coin 'to-hold-said ca'rd'on the plaque, and means for removably affixing the plaque with the card mounted thereon to a supporting surface.

2. A combination display device and coin holder of the type set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for rem'ovably' affixing: the plaque with the card mounted thereon to a supporting'surface comprises a suction cupi 3. A combination'display device'and coin holder comprising aplaque transversely spaced, forwardly projecting 'finger-likeelements disposed on thefront face'oftheplaque, an indicia-bearing card having apertures spaced to receive said fingers, removably mounted on the front faced the plaque, said finger-like elements jointly defininga receptacle for a coin inserted therebetween in overlying relation' to a portion of the card and acting 4." A combinationdisplay device and 'coinholde'r of' the type set forth in claim 3 wherein said adjustable means comprises a bulbous-element aflixed to the plaque, a mag net holder, a magnet disposed in said holder and said holder also hsvinga socket for receiving the said bulbous element.

5. A combination display device and coin holderof the type set forthin claim 3 wherein said adjustable means comprises a bulbous element affixed to the-plaque, and a suction cup provided with a socket for receiving the said bulbous element.

6. A combination'display device and coin holder of the type described comprising .a plaque, coin receiving fingers disposed on the front face of the plaque, an indicia-bearing. card apertured to receive said 'fingcrs, removably mounted on the front face of the plaque, said fingers actingjointly .withan-inserted coin in overlying relation to said card, upon 'the-insertion'thereof in the=apertures of the cardtohold-said cardon the plaque and means for removablyratfixingnhe plaque with the card mounted thereon I to a supporting surface.

7. A combination displaydevice and coin holder of the type described comprising a plaque for'wardly projecting, spaced-fingers disposed onthe front face of the plaque, an indicia-bearinggcard apertured to receiv'esaid fingers, removably mounted on-tbe front face of the plaque, said fingers defining a combined coin receptacle and card support, and means for removably affixing the'plaque to a supporting surface- 8. Acombinatio'n display device and coin holder of the type set forth in claim 7 wherei'nsaid last-named means comprises a sandwich magnet assembly.

References Cited'inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 918,724 Austin Apr. 20, 1909 1,347,452- Franzen July 20, 1920 2,144,184 Hale Jan. 17, 1939 2,398,653 Linlor- Apr. 16, 1946 2,659,169 Brennan Nov. 17, 1953 2,833,072 Gregory May 6, 1958 2,887,804 Wise May 26, 1959 

